Automatic telephone system.



' No. 822,973 PATBNTED JUNE 12, 1906.

A. A. mmsmv. AUTOMATIG TELEPHONE SYSTEM. APPLIGATIfiK FILED JAE. 24, 1905.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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Inventor;

\b lg No. 822,973. PATENTBD JUNE 12, 1906 A. A. MONSON.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEM APPLIUATIOH FILED JAN. 24, mm.

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1% E E \V figwtafjmom Witnesses ventor 1 PA'I'BNTED JUNE 12, 1906.

A. A. MONSON. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION rmnn JAIL-24. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

/ I Httomegs Witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST ALVIN MONSON, OF GREY EAGLE, MINNESGTA.

AUTOMATId TELEPHQNE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

iatented June 12, 1908 Application illed January 24, 1985. Serial Ho. 242,549.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUST ALVIN MonsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grey Eagle, in the county of Todd and State of Minnesota, have invented a newand useful Automatic'Telephone System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telephony,.. and has for its princi al object to provide means whereby any so station may be automatically connected to another substation withoutcharacter that will permit of ready repair and adjustment.

A still further obiect of the invention is to provide an automatic s stem of this class in which provision is ma e for preventing the operationof the switchboard or any of the circuit-controlling devices while any two sub scribers are connected, so that a strictlyprivate system is insured.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism of the automatic-switchboard type in which the construction is such as to permit a private or a conditionally public system, so that bythe simple opening of a local circuit at a central.

station t e switchboard wiil respond to calls from any number of subscribers while others are connected, so'that more than two substations may be connected at the same time.

'With these and other objects in view, as

will more fully hereinafter a pear, the invention consists m certain nove features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinaf' ter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being under stood that various changes in the form, pro

portions, size, and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure its 7 boar circuit-controlling device. Fig. 5 is an elevation oi the same.

Similar numerals of reference are employed .to indicate correspondin parts throughout the several figures of the rawings.

Jlhe switchboard 10 is formed, preferably, of wood, and to its front face are secured cir cuit-closing strips 11 of a number equal to the number .of substations. These strips are preferably formed of s ring-brass, and their upper ends are secure to the board by two screws, one of which, 12, is extended through to the rear of the board and is provided with a washer 13 and nut 14, between which may be clamped the end of a talking-wire 15, there being one of such wires leading from each substation to the central station and each being separately connected to one of the strips 11. The switchboard is provided with openings for the reception of electromagnets 16,

that preferably are formed of spools arranged end portions 21, that are slotted to receives.

screw-"driver orsimilar tool. The-periphery of each head is threaded and screws directly into the surrounding casing of the electromag net. In each head are insulated eyesfor the passage of the wires. An electroniagnet is arranged immediately to the rear of eschof the strips 11, and each of said strips carries an armature 23, formed of soft iron. Normally the arniatures are held outward away from the ends of the electromagnets bythe brass springs 11, and each spring rests on an adjustable ulcruln in the form of a screw 25, that asses through an openin in the switchd The screw isthre'ade intoa nut 26, that is seated in a recess in the front of the board, and the rear end of the scr'ewcarries a lock-nut 27,by means of which it may be rigidly held in any position of adjustment.

At a oint below the electroma nets is arrange a series of contacts in t e form of screws 29, that preferably are provided with contact-points 30,.for1ned of platinum or similar material. The screws 29 "pass through nuts 31 arranged in recesses at the front of the board, an at the rear end said screws extend through c enings m astrip 32, formed. of brass or simi air-material, so that the rear ends of all of the'screfl'mnllcfllo- V and and will tinned from ally connected-to each other. Each screw is locked in place by a nut 33.

The lower portion of each of the brass strips 11 carries a pin 34, which extends completely through the strip and forms a double contact, one end of which is arranged to engage the contact 30, while the outer end of the in is adapted to engage a contact carried y a screw 35. The screws 35, of a number equal to the number of stri s, extend througha bar 36, formed of woo or other non-conductor and supported at the front of the board. Each of these screws is held in adjusted osition b a lock-nut 37, the latter forming a so a bin( ing-post to which may be connected a wire 38, and these wires lead, as will be hereinafter described, to a circuit-controlling device .also arranged at the central station. Under normal conditionsthe talking-wire of each of the several stations is electrlcally connected through the screw 12,strip 11, contact 34, contact 35, and wire 38 to its circuit-controlling device; but when the electromagnet is energized the armature 23,. carried by the stri will be attracted and the circuit will be l iroken between contacts 34 be established between contacts 34 and 30.

Near the bottom of the switchboard is secured a bar 38, that is provided with a longitudinal groove, carrying a strip 39, formed of hard rubber, vulcanized fiber, or other non-conductor. The upper edge of this'strip is provided with lugs or ears 40of' a number equal to the number of stri s11; but normally said lugs alternatewit the strips, or, in other words, are disposed between the strips, so that the latter will be free to move when their armatures are attracted by the electromagnets. After movement of any one strip .by the ener izing of its electromagnet the strip 39 will a so be moved until all of the lu s are in alinement with the strips 11, and t ereu on the strips which first have been'tnove will be locked in place, while the lugs or ears of the remaining strips will pass behind the latter and prevent any movement should the electromagnets of said strips be energized.

Leading from each of the substations is a signal-wire 42, that is bonnected to a plate 43 on the back oithe switchboard. Adjacent to the plate 43 is a similarplate 44, and the two may be connected by a plug 45 in order to complete the circuit of the wire 42 to the electromagnet l6. The removal of this lug cuts out an desired substation; As wil a pear from ig. 3, the sigl'ialing-circuit is con the ma met 16 through wire 45 to a strip 46, formc( of copper or other ood conducting material, all of said si na ingwires being connected to the strip an all being thus connected in multiple.

he locking-strip 39 of the switchboard may be operated in any suitable manner, but

preferablyis held in inoperative position by a spring 47 and is moved to locking )osition by a pivotally-mounted armature 48, raving one end disposed within the field of force of an electromagnet 49, the latter being energized when the si naling-circuit of any substation is complete( At each of the substations is arranged a calling device or circuit-closing mechanism of the character shown in Fig. 1.

On a suitable base 51 is arranged a standard or bracket 52, which in connection with a step-bearin at the base forms a support for a vertical y disposed shaft 53. On this shaft is secured a step-by-step ratchetwheel 54, with which engages a pawl 55, the latter being carried by a lever '56 and being held in contact with the ratchet-wheel by means of a spring. 57. Under normal conditionsthat is to say, when there is no current on the linethe lever 56 will be held outward by means ofa spring 58 and will enga e a contact 59, forming one terminal of a coal circuit which controls the movement of some of the parts of the a paratus. The lever 56 is pivoted on a stan ard 60 and carries an armature 61, disposed within the field of force of an electromagnet 62, the latter being sli ported by an iron frame 63. Each time t e electromagnet is energized the armature 6F will be attracted and lever 56 and pawl 55 will be moved in such manner as to cause rotative movement of the ratchet-disk 54 to the extent of a single tooth. To revent rearward movement of the ratchet-dis as the lever 56 moves outward, a locking-pawl 64 is employed, said pawl bein held m engagement with the ratchet-wheeT by a spring 65.

In order to restore the ratchet-wheel to its initial position at the completion of each se lecting movement, a spring 66 is employed. One end of the spring is secured to the frame 63 and its opposite end to the shaft or spindle 53. The spring is placed under tension as the ratchet-wheel is turned and in expanding restores the ratchet-wheel to its initial position, this position bein determined by an ear 67 on said ratchetw eel coming into contact with a stop 68, carried by frame 63.

Secured to the lower end of the shaft 53 is an arm 69, from which extends a sprin -contact 70. This spring orig-a es an ann'u ar series of contacts 71, carried b the base and insulated from each other. l ach contact is connected to oneof the wires 38. Normally the contact 70 rests at zero out of engagement with any of the contacts 71; but it engages with said contacts as the ratchet-disk receives step-by-step movement and finally rests in engagement with contact4 5 6 or to the numany other contact correspondin ber of the substation with which it is'desired to communicate. The sring-contact70 is electrically connected to t e arm 69, shaft 53, bracket 52, and a wire 74 to the brass strip 32 of the switchboard.

. ing .on the periphery On the base 51 is mounted a small motor 77, having an arm attire-shaft 78, on which is secured a Worm 79. The worm intermeshes witha worm-wheel 80, that is secured on the shaft 81, arranged in suitable'bearhlgs formed in brackets 82, and on the same shaft is socured a tappet-disk 83, having a plurality oi fingers or tap ets 84, which may engage a lug 85 on a s idable bar 86. The bar 86 is mounted in suitable guides and at one end is arranged for engagement with the two pawls 55 an 64. At theoppositeendthebarcarries a spring 88, that serves to restore the bar to initial position. When the motor is ener gized, the armature-shaft 78 is revolved, and shaft 81 is turned through the worm-gearing, whereupon the tappets 84, or one of them, will engage the lo 85 and move the bar 86. in the direction of t 1e pawls, said pawls being both moved to release position, and the sprin 66 thereu on acting to restore the step-by-step ratchet-disk to its initial position.

To the lower portion of the shaft 53 is secured an arm 90, and said arm carries a pin 93 The base is provided with two contacts 91 and 92, that under normal conditions are held disengaged from each other by said pin 93, these contacts closing when the ratchetdisk moves in starting the selecting operation. The base further carries two contacts 94 and 95, that normally are held out of engagement with each otherbycont act with the pin 93 but as soon as a selecting movement starts and the pin moves from engagement with the contacts said contacts will engage and close a local circuit in which the electromagnet 49 is connected. This local circuit is completed through wires 96 97 anda hattery 98. The contacts 91 and 92 are arranged in a circuit including a wire 99 and battery 100 and the motor 77.

At each substation is a circuit making and breaking device, this in the present instance being "shown in the form of a disk 101, having in its periphery a series of blocks 102, formed of non conducting material. The si nal-wire 42 of each substation is electrically connected to the disk, the latter being of brass or other conducting material, and bear- 103, through which the circuit may be completed by a wire-104 and wire if)? to the ground.

Each of the local stations includes a transmitter 106, primary battery 107, an inductorium 108, receiver 109, a switch-hook ill), a polarized hell 111, and a niagneto-generator 1 l 2.

Under normal conditions a block of insulating material 102 is under the contacts ring 103 at each of the substations, and all 0 the signalin vcontacts are therefore 0 on. Should any on scriber wish to call snot or, he turns the disk 102 a suflicient distance to "number of times.

of the disk is a spring make and break the circuit the required desired the disk 102 will be turned until the contact-sprin 103 has engaged the eriphcry of theidis six distinct tiin s. 'I he circuit may be traced from the ground at the substation through wire 105, wire 104, contact 103, disk 101, wire 42, plate 43, plug 45, plate 44, electromagnet 16, wire 45, strip 46, WireiOfi, electromagnet 62, wire 107, battery 168 to ground at the central station. This innnediately energizes the electromagnet 16,'that is connected to the substation making the call, and the armature 23 in front of said electromagnet will be attracted, cans ing the strip 11 to move, while all of the remaining strips on the hoard remain in initial position, and this occurs at of the circuit at the local station. Moveinent'of the strip 11 causes disengagement of the contacts 34 and 35 and effects engage- -.n1ent of contact 34 With'contact 30, these coin )leting a circuit hereinafter"described.,

The electromagnet 62 being energized attracts the armature 61, and lever 56 is moved,

causing the pawl to advance the ratchet- Wvhcel to the extent of a single tooth, and at each subsequent energizing of thenuignet by further movement of the calling-disk 101 the ratchet-wheel may be advanced a tooth. The first effect of this movement is to move pin 93 from contacts 91, 92, 94, and 95, and this partly closes riiotor-eircn it and closes the circuit between 94 95 and through wires 96 and D7 to the electromagnet 49. The energizing of electronlagnet 49 attracts the armature 48, and the latter moves the strip 39 until all of the ears or lugs 40 are in ahnement with the lower ends of the brass strips 11. One of the lugs or cars 40 will pass in front of the strip, which has been moved by the onergizing of its n'iagnet at the beginning of its operation and will lock said strip in the posh tion to which it is moved. The remaining lugs will pass to the rear of the remaining the first closing For instance, it No. 6. be

IIO

strips, and if any other subscriber attempts to call central the lug 40 at the rear ofthe stri to which his station is connected will prevent any movement of said strip, and the mass strip belonging to this station will not he moved to effect closing of the talking-cir cuit.

The step-by-step movement of the ratchetdisk causes the spring 70 to engage successive contacts 71 until it finally rests on the contact cm-rcspondinn to the number of the station to be calledthe sixth in the present instance. Resting on this contact a circuit may be traced from the ground at the callingstation through wire 105, wire 115, magnetogenerator 112, wire 116, call-bell 11], wire 1'17 receiver-hook the talking-wire I5, to-the central station, and thence by'serew 12 to brass stri 11 of the callin -station. This brass strip as been move as previously described, until its contact 34 e ages contact 30, and the circuit is complete through these two contacts to screw 29 and brass strip 32, from whence it may be traced through a wire 118, wire 74, to the bracket 52, shaft 53, arm 69, contact 70, and the said sixth contact 71. From this sixth contact 71 the circuit may be 'followed through wire 38, which leads along the wooden bar 36 to thecontact-screw of the sixth station, and from thence through contact 34 of the brass strip 11 belonging to said sixth station, and thenceby the talking-wire 15 back to the sixth substation and by way of thereceiverhook 110, wire 1'17,call-bell 1-11, wire 11c,

magneto-generator 1 12, Wire 1 15, and wire .105 to the groundat said station,-thus cornpletinga circuit from ground at the callingstation to groiind at the sixth station, and'lf the-magnetoegenerator at the calling-station is operated bothvof the call-bellsat said stations will be sounded.

After the signal has been sounded both 1 subscribers remove their receivers from the hooks and the talking-circuit vmay then be traced from ground at the calling-station thro h wire 105 Wire 120,-receiver 109, the secon a of the induction-coil 108, wire 121,

, receiverook 1 10, wire 15 to central station, 'thencethrough the brass strip belonging to the calling-station, contacts 34 and 30, screw 29, the brass strip 32, wire 118, wire 74,

frame 52 shaft 53, arm 69, contact :70,-con- I taot 7'1 oi-the sixth station, wire 38, screw- 35, contact 34 to the brass strip 11 of'the sixth station, and thence out over the talking wire 15 of saidsixth station to ground in the man- :ner previously described with reference to -ener 'zed, and the armature 56 moves out- -war under the influence of spring 58, whereupon the lever 56 engages the contact-screw 59. This completes the motor-circuit through contacts 91 92, battery -100, wire 99, motor 77, 'frame 60, lever 56, and the motor is operated. As the motor revolves the worm 79 turns the worm wheel 80, and one of the tappets 84 will engage the lug 85 and bar 86, movin said barin the direction of the pawls 55 an 64. The pawls are disengagedirom the ratchet-wheel, and the latter is restored to its initial osition by means ofthe spring -66, its initia position bein determined by contact of the ear 67 with t e stop 68. The pin carried by the arm 'engages the contacts 91 92- 94 95-, and all are separated, so that. the motor-circuit is broken and the meis also broken, an

is claime .matic switc board the selecti eeaeva tor stops, and at the sameitime the circuit in whichthe strip-mo magnet 49isincluded d the .locking'strip is restored to its initial position'by means of the spring 47.

Above the-electrical motor 77 is arranged a permanent magnet 120, that is carried by a.pivoted arm 121. When-the field-magnet of the motor is energized, its.poles are closed to those of the permanent magnet, and the latter will be elevated to some extent. When the field magnet is denergized, it becomes, in effect, merely a mass of iron. it acts as an armature and attracts the permanent magnet, the latter descending and pressing a brake-block carried vthereby against the rev oluble-armature, thus stop ingthemotor. In use the mechanism own in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 is all arranged .within the samecasingxat the central station.

ith asystemarranged as'described it is impossible for any substatiomto callanother while two substations are connected; but in many cases itis desirable to permit communication between a number of telephones,

.and for this purpose aswitoh 125 .is located in the circuit-wire 96, leading'to'lthe electromagnet 49. When-this switchis opened ,the electromagnet will no longer be energized, and the locking-strip will remain statlonary, so that the system may be made either strictly private-orb tionally ublic.

Havi us-descri ed-the invention, what 1s.- 1. In tele hony a central station, an.autoand a selecting device arranged 'atthe central station, an electromagnet for movin the selecting device, independent selectln and talking circuits extending :from eac substation to the central station each of such selecting-circuits being normal y broken atthe substation and connected to; the -electromagnet of the selecting device at the central stationandthenceto a return, an independent electromagnet for each selecting-circuit, s'aid magnets forming part of the switchboardand controlling=the closing of the talking-circuits, means ateach substation for makin and breaking the selecting-cir'cuit, there y controlling .at the central station the ener iaingofsaid independent electromagnets and the connection ofthe talking-circuits to theselecting mechanism, the operation of the electromag'net of the selecting mechanism for a predetermined .number of times serving to connect the talkingcircuit of the called station to the talkingwcircuit of the; calling-station through saidselec ing mechanism.

2. In telephony, a central station including an automatic-switchboardrand-a selecting mechanism, an .electromagnet :for operating mechanism, inde endent selectin and ta i circuits lee mg from each an tation to, t e-central station, theselectlecting-circuit and effecting on the first movement through the energizing of the switchboard-magnet, a connection between the talking-circuit ofthe ca'llin -station and the selecting mechanism, and y continued making and breakirw of the selecting-circuit serving to connect the talking-circuit of the callin station to the talking-circuit of a calle station through said selected mechanism.

3. The combination with a central station, of a switchboard, a plurality of contacts car ried thereby, electromagnets for operatin said cont-acts, a selecting device also arran e at the central station and havin a plura ity of contacts electrically connectc to those of the switchboard, an eleetroma-gnet for operating the selecting device, a pluralit of substations, and line-wires extending rom the substations to the switchboard, the circuit of one of said. line-wires for each substation being extended through the operating-magnet of the selecting device.

4. In telephony, a central station, a switchboard arranged'at the central station, con

tact-strips carried by the switchboard, electromagnets for moving said stri a selecting device having contacts norms ly in circuit with those of the switchboard, an operatingmagnet for the selecting device, a plurality of substations, line-wires extending therefrom to the central station, the circuit of one of said line-wires for each substation being continued through the operatin -magnet of the selecting device and one of t e contact-operating magnets of the board, a contact-locking strip, an electromagnot for o crating the same, and a local circuit in whic said stripoperating magnet is connected, said strip being under the control of the selecting device.

5. In telephony, a central station, a switchboard arranged at the central station, springcontacts carried by the switchboard, an elec trorn agnet for each contact, a pair of opposed stationary contacts with either of which the switch-contacts ma be engaged, a selecting device at the centra station, and including a plurality of spaced contacts, each connected separately to one set of stationary contacts of the board, an operatin magnet for the sclecting device, a revoiub e contact-arm'forming a part of the selecting device and movab e over the stationary contacts thereof, said movable contact being connected to the second series of stationary contacts of the board, a plurality of substations, a line-wire extending from ground at the substations to the spring-contact of the switchboard, and thence by way of the first set of stationary contacts of said board to the stationar contacts of the selecting device, a secon linewire extending from each substation to the central station, and grounded at the latter point, the circuit to the second line-wire being broken at the substation, and circuitclosing means arranged at the substation for closing the circuit of the second line-wire, and means connecting said second line-wire in circuit with one of the strip-operating magnets, and the operating-magnet of the selecting device,

6. In telephony, a central station having an automatic switchboard including a plurality of circuit-closing strips, electromagnet-s for operating said strips, a locking-slide for engaging all of the strips after the movement of one of them, and preventing movement of said remaining strips, an eleotromagnet for operating the slide, a circuit in which the e ectromegnet is arranged, an automatic circuit-closer, and a switch also arranged in the circuit whereby the system may be rendered strict? private or optionally public.

7. n telephony, an automatic switchboard arranged at a central station, spring circuit-closing strips on the switchboard, an armature carried by each stri an inde endent opera-tin -1nagnet carrie by the card and arrange adjacent to each armature, a pair of sets of contacts for each of thestrips, and with one of which the strip normally engages, said strip engaging the second contact when its armature is attracted, a lockingslide engaging the end portions of the several strips, and an electromagnetically-operated means for imparting movement to said lockjug-slide.

8. In an automatic switchboard, a base, a pluralit of spring-pressed strips secured at one on to the base, an adjustable screw forming a fulcrum and tension memberfor the spring, a pair of stationary contacts with either of which said spring may engage, an electromagnet foreach of the springs, an armature carried h each spring and disposed within the field 0 force of the electromagnet, a lon tudinally-movable slide having ears or lugs r engagin said springs, a slide-operating magnet, an an armature disposed adjacent to said slide-operating magnet and connected to the slide.

9. In selectin mechanism, a spindle, a step-by-step rate et-disk secured thereto, an o eratingpawl, and a locking-pawl engagin tile disk, an electric motor, means operated thereby for disengagin both pawls from the disk, a circuit in whic said motor is con nected,iand means under the control of the selecting mechanism for opening and closing said circuit.

it). In selectin mechanism, a s indie, a step-by-step rate et-disk secured t ereto, a sprin tending to restore the ratchet-disk to initia 'position, a stop carried by the disk for I IO ' trolle determining such initial position, a pair of I pawls engaging the ratchet-disk, an arms ture-lever carr one of said pawls, an ar inature secured t o the lever, an electromagnet for attracting the armature, an electrlc. motor, a circuit within which said motor is arranged, circuit controlling devices conin part by the electromagnet, and in part by the spindle, and means 0 erated b the motor for effecting release 0 the paw s from the disk. 1 1. In selecting devices, a spindle, aratchetdisk secured-thereto, a spring tending to restore the disk to initial position, a stop carried by the disk for determining SllC-h mitial position, a plurality of stationar contacts, a contact-arm secured to the spind e and adapted -to successively engage said contacts, an electromagnet, an armature disposed within the field of force of the electromagnet, a le-' ver carryin said armature, an operatingpawl carrie by the lever, a locking-pawl for holding the ratchet-disk in adjusted position, a circurt-closi means at the free end of the lever, an electnc motor, a worm carried by the armature-shaft of the motor, a wormwheel with which the worm intermeshes, a tappet-disk revoluble with said worm-wheel, a awl-disen aging rod having an ear or lug to e en age 'by said tappets, a spring' for re storing t e rod to'its initial positon a pair of contacts carried by the s indie, and a circuit connecting the motor, tl i e contacts and the circuit-controlling devices at the end of the armature-lever with a source of electrical 3 5 energy. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST ALVIN MON-SON.

Witnesses:

LOU MosEMAN, S. N. THOMPSON. 

